BOX SCORE

Dover, DE – Delaware State (7-9-1) garnered a split of today's doubleheader against Wagner (6-5) with a 7-3 game-two victory at Soldier Field.

For the second-straight game, the Hornets took the early lead, with a run in the first on Jose Sanchez's RBI single to center. The damage could have been worse had it not been for Damian Csakai's (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) outfield assist at the plate on a double in the gap. Csakai hit freshman Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic), who in turn fired a perfect throw to the plate to nail Sanchez.

The Seahawks tied the game up at 1-1 in the third inning on sophomore Joe Jamison's (West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) fielder's choice with the bases loaded, scoring Higgins, who led off with a single.

Delaware State reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth on a Justin Bittner home run. Later in the inning with runners on second-and-third and one out, Green & White starter RHP Matt Watson (Jr., Howell, NJ / Howell) coaxed a grounder back to the mound and a routine fly ball to left to avoid further damage.

Wagner immediately answered with a single run in the top of the fifth. Csakai belted a one-out triple to left-center. Sophomore Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) brought followed with a RBI-single, tying the game up at 2-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Bittner belted his second home run of the day, a two-run shot to right field, giving the Hornets a 4-2 lead.

The Seahawks again responded with a run in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Jared Gruccio (Landisville, NJ / Buena Regional) led off with a pinch-hit single to left field. Senior Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) was then plunked with one out. Sophomore Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) followed with a RBI single through the right side, cutting the lead to 4-3. After Delaware State reliever Anthony Gibbons induced a fly out, Boyd took off for second. The ball got away from Jose Sanchez on the pick-off attempt, allowing Drechsel, who had advanced to third on the previous play, to break for home. Unfortunately, Sanchez made a perfect throw to the plate, maintaining the Hornet lead at 4-3.

Delaware State added three unearned runs in the top of the seventh and Brandon Penick retired the Green & White in order in the seventh, closing out the Hornet victory.

Csakai went 2-3 with a triple and a run to lead a Wagner attack that recorded seven hits. In today's doubleheader split, he was 4-6 from the plate with three outfield assists.

Bittner paced the Hornets, going 3-4 with two home runs and three RBI.

Watson fell to 1-1, yielding three runs on eight hits with one strikeout over 4.1 innings. Jose Portella evened his record at 1-1 with the win.

Ross Babineaux went 4-4 with a RBI to lead Delaware State.

The teams wrap up their four-game set with a 1:00 pm contest tomorrow.